Scott F. Covell's Unauthorized Sequal to The Great Gatsby

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Intro

The Great Gatsby is one of the greatest American novels (The Modern Library labels it the 2nd best American or British novel of the 20th-century). In this novel, F. Scott Fitzgerald proved his legendary genius, crafting a work whose characters, symbols, imagery and brilliant lyrical writing would resonate throughout the ages. Certainly the current Baz Luhrmann film is in a part a testimony to this.

Summary of Revenge of Gatsby:

It is 1939; a young Pamela Buchanan (the daughter of Tom and Daisy Buchanan) suddenly materializes at her uncle Nick Carraway’s house to learn what happened to her mother 17 years earlier. Reluctantly, Nick will relate to his niece the events of 1922, her mother’s tumultuous affair, and eventually, he will even consider telling her (and us) the story of Gatsby’s ghostly return, and the revenge and retribution that follows.

Note: Before you move on in this site to read my fanciful prequel/sequel to The Great Gatsby, you really must read the original novel, if you haven’t already. It is a reading experience not to be missed, and also, important in understanding several of the characters in Fitzgerald’s novel who do not appear in the film adaptations, but who do appear in my sequel: Revenge of Gatsby. I hope you enjoy my humble efforts to keep the magic going…

Above, you will find links to all 9 chapters of the novel (warning: like “The Great Gatsby,” “Revenge of Gatsby” is 9 chapters, but RoG is twice as long…), and the PDF can be downloaded in “For Mobile Users.” I have provided Youtube links to the many songs presented in “Revenge of Gatsby,” which also provide a sort of the ambiance for many scenes. So as you read, I recommend opening each new link and listening to the music of the time (and occasionally from other times) to help you enjoy this hopefully entertaining sequel/prequel to a great American Classic.

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2 thoughts on “Intro”

The book, first off, I recognize, as most should, is that this is a creative story. The sole purpose, I think, is to entertain using a great American classic story. Criticism of this novel being held to a standard of that from Fitzgerald himself is ludicrous. If the purpose of Gatsby two was indeed to strictly continue the story in the writing style of Fitzgerald, it would be near impossible and should not be reprehensible for trying to create a fun story in his name. People have used Shakespeare for creative literary enjoyment, and I think that’s what this story embodies.

I think you raise a good point, Mtheologidy: It would be foolish to try and copy Fitzgerald’s brilliant prose—like that yearly contest where writers copy William Faulkner’s stream-of-consciousness style. If you are a reader expecting to read a new novelistic attempt to imitate Fitzgerald, or if you can’t concede that Nick may have changed in 20 years and so his narrative style, or that Gatsby appears to be a ghost, and may now be a bit more carefree, humorous and love to quote lines from classic authors, than this novel is not for you. My concept with Revenge of Gatsby was a more festive postmodern-like creative endeavor, while still honoring the essence or “spirit” of the original text and its characters. As a Pomo text, it features web links to music and visuals, songs, poetry, Gatsby quoting Shakespeare, vivid descriptions of ballet, Gatsby as a Dickens-like “Ghost of Christmas past” herding Nick about and showing our narrator important moments from his (Gatsby’s) past, etc. Fitzgerald does certainly resonate throughout Revenge of Gatsby: obviously the story and characters, and even many of the lines and symbols in The Great Gatsby, though I have chosen to not use any quotes, but rather create slightly different wording to convey the same concept. Thus “rotten drivers” becomes “reckless riders”; not as awesome as Fitzgerald, of course, but it promotes similar ideas as well as suggesting that people in America may not in fact be ‘driving’ in pursuit of their dreams, but be just mere “riders” on a sort of out-of-control American Dream golden roadster, as it were.
If you love The Great Gatsby at all, are interested in a somewhat lengthy (RoG is twice as long as TGG) serious but “fun” prequel/sequel to that outstanding novel, then I invite you to check this out. Enjoy!